Guarda Val

Guarda Val, Scuol: A Michelin Key Selected Retreat Offering Alpine Charm and Exceptional Hospitality

Guarda Val in Scuol, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its unique atmosphere, impeccable service, and commitment to providing an authentic yet luxurious Engadine experience. Guests frequently describe their stays as "exceptional" and "wonderful," highlighting the hotel's ability to create a truly special and memorable visit.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Guarda Val in Scuol is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently using words like "exceptional," "wonderful," and "unique." It boasts a "wonderful" rating of 9.0 based on 124 reviews, with high scores for cleanliness (9.5), comfort (9.5), staff (9.3), and location (9.3). One guest even declared it "truly, one of the best hotel stays we have ever had."

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud Guarda Val for several standout features:

• Unique Village Concept & Design: The hotel is set within a 400-year-old Engadine house, comprising eleven ancient barns and stables, offering a unique "hotel that is a village" feel. This traditional architecture is harmoniously blended with upscale modern design.
• Exceptional Service: The staff receives effusive praise for being "fantastic, always friendly, ever attentive," and making every day feel special. Many guests feel a "warm welcome" and a sense of being in a "family house."
• Romantic Location & Views: Situated in the upper village centre of Scuol, the hotel offers fantastic views of the Lower Engadine mountains and a quiet, idyllic environment.
• Culinary Excellence: The on-site gourmet restaurant is a major draw, known for its high-quality, regional cuisine.
• Wellness Access: The hotel provides direct access to the Engadin Bad Scuol thermal baths, and also features its own in-house wellness area.

3. Room Quality

The 36 individually designed rooms at Guarda Val are described as "wonderful," offering a blend of historical charm and modern luxury. They feature traditional wooden furnishings and contemporary bathrooms. Guests appreciate the thoughtful design, with one mentioning a "compact 3-level suite-let" that maintained an authentic feel with an "18th-century key." Some rooms reportedly offer modern luxuries like private whirlpools or open fireplaces.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Guarda Val is a significant highlight. The gourmet restaurant, set in a converted 300-year-old cow byre, has been awarded 15 GaultMillau points and focuses on regional specialties made almost exclusively from Swiss produce. Guests can choose from two set menus (including a vegetarian option) or à la carte dishes. Breakfast is consistently described as "a dream of highest quality" and "delicious." In winter, the hotel also offers a "Piz Pisoc" Fondue Room for a cozy fondue chinoise experience.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Guarda Val is consistently lauded as exceptional. Guests frequently commend the "fantastic," "friendly," and "attentive" staff who contribute to a feeling of being "spoiled" and create a "family house" atmosphere. The team is noted for being "incredibly friendly and above and beyond helpful," making trips perfect from day one. The hotel has received awards for its hospitality, including the "Prix Bienvenue as one of the 100 friendliest hotels in Switzerland," underscoring its commitment to authentic and high-level service.

6. Location & Accessibility

Guarda Val is located in the upper village centre of Scuol, within a 400-year-old Engadine house. It's considered "perfectly located halfway between the main ski lift and the thermal bath/center of town." A key advantage is its direct access to the Engadin Bad Scuol thermal baths, and it is also connected by a passage to the partner Hotel Belvedere (which features its own spa). Guests staying at Guarda Val often benefit from inclusive services such as free use of the PostBus network, local cable cars in summer, and ski passes, sports buses, and thermal bath entry in winter.

7. Value & Pricing

While some individual reviewers have expressed that the hotel's food and drink can be "overpriced", the overall "value for money" is rated at 8.1. The hotel offers various packages that bundle accommodation with culinary experiences, spa treatments, ski passes, and public transport, providing good value given the extensive inclusions and high level of service. For example, a "GuardaVal Short Week" package for 5 nights, including breakfast, three dine-around dinners, bath access, ski pass, and public transport, starts from CHF 902 per person.

8. Common Complaints

The most frequently mentioned "complaint" (or rather, important note) is the lack of elevators due to the preservation of the historic Engadine house structure. However, the staff is readily available to assist with luggage, and for guests with walking difficulties, the hotel recommends staying at its partner hotels, Belvedere or Badehotel Belvair. One reviewer did find the hotel to be "overpriced" in terms of food and drink, suggesting that better-priced restaurants exist elsewhere in Scuol.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. michelin.com
3. belvedere-hotelfamilie.ch
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6. engadin.com
7. michelin.com
8. michelin.com
9. hotels.com
10. guardaval.ch
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12. belvedere-hotelfamilie.ch